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Employee Spotlights

As Senior Manager of Airfield Operations, Brian Washburn works with a team that handles everything from the terminal and airfield inspection programs, gate assignments, cargo logistics, wildlife management, noise abatement and ensuring operations run smoothly during runway closures due to maintenance and/or construction. (5/17/2018)

A typical day for Kerri-Lyn Francis goes down like this: Wake up around 3:30 a.m., get her South Tampa massage and wellness clinic open before the first client arrives at 5 a.m., treat clients and do administrative work until about 2 or 2:30, then head to Tampa International Airport, where she’s a joint venture partner of Terminal Getaway Spas, TPA’s new massage and nail spas at each of the airsides. (5/3/2018)

Growing up in her hometown of tiny Homer, New York, Kathie Taube decided to major in Zoology while attending the State University of New York (SUNY) at Oswego. Later, she went back to community college to take up accounting and today, she manages finances by remitting payments to the contractors, capitalizing the fixed assets and requesting grant reimbursement for the first phase of the master plan expansion, the largest capital program in the airport’s history. (4/18/2018)

If it’s on a screen, lights up, makes sound or displays digital info anywhere throughout Tampa International Airport, there’s a good chance James Tarro had a hand in it. As TPA’s Audio/Visual Support Technologist, he’s responsible for keeping guests informed, making sure presentations go smoothly and troubleshooting when things go awry. (4/5/2018)

When it comes to Tampa International Airport’s retail world, Patrick Lampasso is a walking encyclopedia. The Stellar General Manager started out with HMS Host as a retail assistant manager in 2006, back when Host operated all concessions at TPA, and over the years Patrick managed every single retail concept at the Airport. (3/15/2018)

In 1978, Brenda Geoghagan started at Tampa International Airport as a clerk to help pay for her college tuition. Now, 40 years later, she prepares to retire as the Director of Guest Services and one of the longest tenured employees at TPA. (3/1/2018)

Juan started as a cashier in a NewsLink store in 2000. Since then, he has worked his way up in the company from cashier to Supervisor to Manager. Juan ultimately reached the General Manager position when he relocated to Boston to open and manage Boston Logan stores. He relocated once again to Tampa, where he is the General Manager of all of TPA’s NewsLink stores, including NewsLink, Time Zone/Shades, AirEssentials/InTune Electronics, BookLink and, soon, The Shoppes at Bayshore Boulevard and Bay to Bay News / Peace Love World. (2/15/2018)

Last month, Airport Dispatcher Tonya Haigler noticed one of the video screens in the Airport Operations Center had the weather forecast on a local news station. Temperatures were dropping to near-freezing levels. Tonya and her friend spent the evening driving around town, peering into alleys and slowing down at park benches, looking for shivering people who were grateful when Tonya handed them blankets and food. Tonya still tears up thinking about them. (2/8/2018)

When Helda Durham moved from her longtime home of Detroit to become Delta’s new station manager in Tampa last June, she had one fear about Florida: Hurricanes. Don’t worry, someone told her. The Tampa Bay area hasn’t been hit since 1921. A few months later, she found herself bracing for the approaching Hurricane Irma. (1/18/2018)

In December 2014, Trudy began working as a temporary administrative assistant in the Marketing Department at TPA, and by the following summer, she was a full-time part of the team. Trudy supports the department with Oracle requisitions and other duties but also has a heavy hand in coordinating and planning the annual TPA 5K on the Runway and helping with other events such as air service launches and ribbon cuttings throughout the year. (1/4/2018)

As the retail concessionaire company Paradies Lagardère has added several new retail and news convenience stores at Tampa International Airport, sales associate and trainer/team lead Liz Pontoriero has been an invaluable part of the Paradies TPA family. Her supervisors and team members have noted her eagerness to jump in and help during the Airport’s busiest times, her friendly demeanor and her determination to make the best of any situation. (12/7/2017)

Having spent 26 years as a mechanic for Toyota and earning respect as one of the company’s top 12 master certified technicians in the Southeast region, David Wright wasn’t looking to leave. But when Tampa International Airport was looking for a Fleet Maintenance Supervisor to help maintain a variety of vehicles and equipment, David couldn’t turn down the opportunity. (11/16/2017)

While Sheila Welsh spent most of her life growing up and working in California, she always dreamed of moving to one of two places: Hawaii or Florida. So when an Alaska Airlines station supervisor position opened in Tampa, she felt it was meant to be. (11/2/2017)

Last month, during the week that most of the Tampa Bay area was preparing for Hurricane Irma, an 81-year-old man walked up to Tampa International Airport Police Officer Luis Flores. Flores helped him call a SuperShuttle to get an estimate on how much it would take to go back to his Sarasota home. It was $65. The man had no money. Without hesitating, Flores paid for the fare and told the man not to repay him but to pay it forward to a person in need. (10/19/2017)

Born and raised in the Tampa Bay area, Southwest Airlines ramp agent Adam Juriga has early memories of his father bringing him to Tampa International Airport to watch planes land and take off and take photos. “I guess that’s when I got the ‘AvGeek’ bug,” Juriga said. (10/4/2017)

Those who know Airport Operations Manager Dave Nicewinter will not be surprised to learn that one of his early childhood career aspirations was to be a weatherman. As a boy growing up in a small, rural town in Pennsylvania, Dave loved spending time outdoors, watching rainstorms, fascinated with weather disasters and phenomena such as wildfires and tornadoes. (9/19/2017)

As a child of bar owners in Ireland, Four Green Fields bartender Fran Downes likes to say the business is in her blood. She also likes to live by her favorite Irish quote by William Butler Yeats: “There are no strangers here; Only friends you haven’t yet met.” (9/7/2017)

For a job that requires parsing through budgets, organizing finances and providing guidance on annual expenses, there’s no better guy on the task than Antonio Hardeman. The Tampa International Airport Budget Manager loves crunching numbers, matching practices with policies, creating Excel spreadsheets and studying how a budget flows through an organization. (8/17/2017)

In Rion Russell’s office on the 2nd floor of the Long Term Parking Garage, there are no family photos, no mementos, no signs of what a passionate Kansas City Royals fan he is. The Hertz Rent-A-Car General Manager is not used to putting down roots and personalizing his office, having moved through six airports around the U.S. in the 13 years he’s worked for Hertz. (8/3/2017)

As Amy Flack was looking forward to beginning her job at Tampa International Airport in 2014, an acquaintance who already worked at the airport told her: “Don’t worry about lunch on your first day. I’ll treat you.” Amy ended up dining with all Aviation Authority employees at the annual service awards luncheon. (7/20/2017)

As a manager for Eulen America, which operates baggage handling and other services for WestJet, American and Eastern airlines, Mary Ellen has works closely with the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority to provide high quality customer care and efficient service. (7/5/2017)

Just before turning 18, Gail packed up a few belongings, walked out the door with $32 in her pocket and hitchhiked her way down to the Sunshine State. When she finally found herself at a stop in Tampa, she thought, “This looks good.” And there she stayed for the duration of many life changes, including marriage, motherhood and what has now been a 19-year career as an Airport Dispatcher for Tampa International Airport.(6/22/2017)

Raised in Lithuania by his mother and grandmother, Zydrunas Rackauskas – who goes by Z – had a competitive spirit and a drive to see the world beyond his small country. After moving to the United States to play college basketball, Z found opportunities he never dreamed of – most recently as the General Manager of Tampa International Airport’s new P.F. Chang’s. (6/1/2017)

As a young, single mother of a 4-year-old daughter with only some college studies behind her and a little work experience, Lisa Assetta was on her own and desperate for a job. Now, thirty years after begging for that first secretary job, Lisa is the Senior Executive Assistant to Tampa International Airport CEO Joe Lopano during one of the most busy, exciting and important times in the history of the Airport. (5/20/2017)

Sheltair’s Tampa operations were ranked the No. 1 FBO in the U.S. in a worldwide survey by Aviation International News. “For years and years, we’ve been up there in the top 10, then we were in the top six, then number two,” said Clayton Lackey, General Manager of Sheltair TPA. “For us to finally hit No. 1 is a big deal and speaks a lot about our facility, our staff and our reputation we work hard to gain.” (5/4/2017)

In second grade, Greg Forrest excelled at his schoolwork, often finishing tasks and assignments well before his classmates and making straight-A’s. Now a Senior Business Analyst who conducts research and data analysis for Tampa International Airport, Greg is still constantly looking for new challenges, new ways of looking at trends and new ideas to help TPA improve and enhance the Airport for guests and passengers, as well as for employees. (4/20/2017)

The first thing Tony Parreira noticed when he arrived at Tampa International Airport six months ago was how “modern and fresh” everything looked and felt. As the new site manager for Flagship, which provides janitorial services throughout TPA, Parreira and his team of workers were tasked one of the most important aspects of airport customer service: cleanliness. (4/6/2017)

Before coming to Tampa International Airport almost five years ago, John Mallory had worked on just about every type of construction project.Now as the Director of Construction handling nearly $1 billion in expansion projects at TPA, Mallory feels like he’s reached his “dream job.” (3/16/2017)

While studying finance in college, Kyle Doyle figured he’d get a job on Wall Street. Soon after graduation, though, he realized what was actually available to him were not the types of positions that he wanted to work in. Kyle is now the Group Rental Manager for Tampa International Airport’s Enterprise Holdings operations, which include Enterprise Rent a Car, National Car Rental and Alamo Rent A Car. (3/2/2017)

Growing up in Lancaster, Pa., Wanda Dunnigan dreamed of one day becoming an auto mechanic. This tomboy, now Tampa International Airport’s Manager of Employee Relations and Talent Acquisition, enjoys working in a family-type atmosphere and oversees employee relations, HR-related policies and recruiting. (2/16/2017)

When it comes to airline loyalty, it’s hard to find anyone more dedicated than John Lucht. The United Airlines General Manager at Tampa International Airport has moved all over the country, bringing his wife and kids along with him to settle in different cities and roles with the airline. (2/3/2017)

Growing up, Traffic Manager Robert Rinehart had his sights set on becoming a professional baseball player. The Tampa native was an ace player at Robinson High and after graduating, he tried out for the minor league Tampa Tarpons, a Cincinnati Reds farm team. “That’s when I found out how much better other players around the country were than me,” Rinehart said. “So I re-evaluated.” (1/19/2017)

Lt. Roger Picard has a special way with Tampa International Airport’s most vulnerable passengers. He holds the hand of the elderly woman who has fallen on the way to catch her plane. He lets the nervous little boy, flying for his first time, ring the bell on his paramedic bicycle. (1/5/2017)

As a little girl in Cincinnati, Carolyn Langdon would sit on the steps of her dad’s basement office and listen to him talk to his Kraft Food Ingredients sales clients on the phone, handling each with impeccable customer service and problem-solving tactics. Now, Carolyn is a Senior Business Analyst in the Concessions Department for TPA. Next month, she will take a new position as a Business Administration Manager of General Aviation, a completely new field that she’s excited to explore. (12/22/2016)

When Perry Kranias was in middle school, he and his parents moved from Chicago to the Tampa Bay area, where he helped them run family diner-style Greek restaurants for several years. After his family sold the last diner in St. Petersburg 16 years ago, he began looking for new opportunities and spotted a job posting for a concessions manager position at Tampa International Airport with HMSHost. (12/9/2016)

Just about everyone who has worked or spent any time in Tampa International Airport’s terminals has encountered Guest Services Representative Alan Stull. He’s the friendly face at the Main Terminal information desks, the guy stopping to help any passenger who looks even slightly lost, the bus driver proudly giving the Airport grand tours. (11/17/2016)

For many people – particularly those with special needs, medical issues, or those who have not traveled for some time – the most stressful part of traveling through an airport is the security screening process. Darryl Roberts gets it. As the TSA’s Program Specialist in charge of Customer Service & Community Outreach, he represents a side of TSA that not many think of when they think of Homeland Security. (11/3/2016)

Whether it’s a leaky faucet, a broken doorknob, an office move, a chipped tile or sewage backups, Mike Davis is your man for the job. As a Tampa International Airport Maintenance Worker III, Davis can fix just about anything and everything both inside and outside of the Airport. (10/20/2016)

Those who have been around TPA for a while or worked with Southwest Airlines have most likely seen Alison Hoefler’s friendly face around the airport, or perhaps around town. As the Regional Leader in Community Affairs & Grassroots under the Communication & Outreach Department, Alison is responsible for building relationships in the state of Florida and connecting with community and civic groups for TPA’s most popular carrier. (10/6/2016)

Growing up on Tampa’s Davis Islands, two blocks from Peter O. Knight Airport, Mark Witt remembers watching planes take off and land and being fascinated with aviation. Now in his 20th year at TPA, Mark was recently promoted to Airport Operations Manager and has seen or worked with just about every side of the business. (9/15/2016)

Growing up an only child in Brandon, Darrell Colestock was never quite sure about a future career. He only knew that, like his mother, he was very outgoing and enjoyed helping people. It’s how he has been so successful and well-liked as a Tampa International Airport Police Officer during his six years at TPA. (8/19/2016)

Growing up,Operations Administration Manager Aimee Pidgeon had aspirations of becoming a journalist. As life does, it took a different route and Aimee decided to join the U.S. Army in hopes it would provide a good chance to explore other options. An injury shortened her military journey, but led her to an unexpectedly long career in law enforcement. (7/21/2016)

Mike Vizcarrondo’s journey in the construction industry began when he started selling construction materials in his 20s. He didn’t realize that it was the beginning of an incredible career. He became respected in the field, leading him to a long, winding three-decade career that eventually landed him at TPA as a Sr. Construction Inspector. (7/7/2016)

Just a decade ago, Dan Seeley was a fresh-out-of-college intern grinding it out on his first major construction site – a job that involved signaling tower cranes, counting rebar and operating the business end of a concrete-pumping hose. Now, at age 32, he’s a Senior Project Manager on one of the largest construction jobs in Tampa International Airport’s history. (6/17/2016)

Like many new high school graduates, Jeff Browning wasn’t quite sure what he wanted to do after getting his diploma at his small town school in southern New Mexico. Now a TPA Police Sergeant, he spent much of his prior career swimming among sea life in the Pacific Ocean, diving and boating for law enforcement agencies, doing tactical work on S.W.A.T. teams and now overseeing K9 units at TPA. (6/2/2016)

After growing up in Sparta, NJ and graduating high school with good grades, Irene Pierpont moved to Florida with her parents and decided she wanted to take it easy for a while. Now TPA’s Manager of Concessions, Irene brings several years of expertise in property management, operations and specialty leasing programs. (5/23/2016)

For most of Danny Valentine’s young adult life, he pursued a single goal: To be the best possible journalist he could be. As the TPA Communications Manager, he is in a job created specifically to handle communications for the airport expansion projects. (4/7/2016)

As the new Maintenance Manager of Contracts, Chuck Allen oversees TPA's janitorial contracts, window cleaning contract and keys to all of the airport’s locked doors. It’s a big job that’s about to get much bigger as the Airport expands. (3/24/2016)

Many who work at Tampa International Airport consider themselves aviation enthusiasts, drawn to the airport by their love of planes and flight.But few are as fervently passionate – some might say obsessed – as Senior Manager of Airport Concessions Joel Feldman. (3/3/2016)

If you’ve spent any time around TPA’s Main Terminal, you’ve most likely noticed Dortresia Johnson. It’s no surprise that Dor worked as a fashion model for HSN before joining the Airport as a Volunteer Ambassador three years ago and quickly being hired as a Guest Services Representative. (2/18/2016)

As the Authority’s Director of Planning and Design overseeing much of the historic expansion at TPA, Rich Coudurier feels a special ownership and satisfaction as he watches every steel beam erected, every yard of concrete poured and every construction milestone reached. (2/4/2016)

Even before she started working at Tampa International Airport, you might have seen internal auditor Nicole Reynolds on top of the long-term parking garage with her husband, watching planes taking off and landing after having dinner in the main terminal. (1/21/2016)

Tampa International Airport Police Corporal Cheryl Porter has been sure of her path since she was in sixth grade. She vividly recalls the moment when a law enforcement officer visited her class on career day at West Gate Christian School in Tampa. (12/17/2015)

When the weather heats up in Tampa, it's Daniel Duncan's job to help keep things cool at TPA. "It's really all about customer satisfaction,” says Daniel, a senior heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician.(12/2/2015)

Connie Mundzak never really aspired to a career in procurement. In fact, she allows that it’s not the kind of career that anyone is likely to aspire too. But there’s enthusiasm in her voice when she starts talking about her job at TPA, where her title is Senior Manager, Procurement for HCAA.(11/18/2015)

Al Illustrato was a big-city kind of guy, a life-long New Yorker who was building a solid career working for the Long Island Railroad. That was more than 26 years ago. Illustrato is now the VP of Facilities and Administration for the Aviation Authority. (10/15/2015)

Adam Bouchard’s road to becoming an Airport Operations Manager at Tampa International Airport was somewhat unconventional and even unexpected, though now he says he feels “very blessed” to have landed here. (10/1/2015)

Airport Operations Center Manager Tony D’Aiuto wasn’t looking for recognition when he took a little boy’s lost stuffed tiger last month, photographed the toy having adventures throughout the airport and created a picture book to give back to the boy when he returned from Texas days later with his family. (07/01/2015)

It’s hard to imagine a time when Tampa International Airport’s soft-spoken, friendly and laid back Procurement Agent James Hanney considered himself a “tough guy.” So tough, in fact, he joined the Marine Corps after high school. (06/18/2015)

Tampa International Airport Director of Concessions Laurie Noyes grew up just outside of Washington D.C., and was always a very focused, driven and visually creative child. She danced ballet, tap and jazz and dreamed of going into fashion merchandising, a career goal her parents fully supported. (05/07/2015)

Jackie Smith has a way of making you talk. Or laugh. Or take a selfie with her. But along with Jackie’s silly side is a serious worker who has a passion for helping others as the program coordinator for the Real Estate Department. (04/16/2015)

A Tampa native with a curious nature, Norm Perry never really knew what he wanted to be when he grew up. Sometimes, he still doesn’t know. His winding career path, after a little trial and error, eventually led to Tampa International Airport, where he has worked for 16 years and now serves as the Manager of the Project Management Office for the IT Department. (04/02/2015)

Reserved and soft-spoken, Tampa International Airport Assistant General Counsel of Legal Affairs Michael Kamprath insists he’s simply “not very interesting.” What he forgets to mention sometimes is that he has traveled all over the world, including two stints living abroad in Australia. (02/19/2015)

Architecture courses through Leesa Coller’s veins. One of the lead designers in charge of Tampa International Airport’s Main Terminal expansion project, Coller was born into a family of bankers and builders. (02/05/2015)

Simon Sanchez is at home in the center of TPA’s Main Terminal surrounded by many of the projects he has helped become reality over the past 15 years. As a construction inspector, he has overseen the airport’s extensive post-9/11 security enhancements, construction of the economy parking garage, the building of the FAA radar tower, numerous runway and taxiway projects and the airport’s two previous major terminal renovations. (01/22/2015)

In 16 years at Tampa International Airport, La Vida Starks has seen it all. As the Risk Management Coordinator, she’s often the first point person to hear about a slip-and-fall accident or a fender bender or any sort of claim handled at the airport. (01/08/2015)

Over the past eight years, Rob Bramblett has crisscrossed the country on one major airport construction project after another, designing and building terminals from Houston to Little Rock, and from Philadelphia to Ft. Lauderdale. But his work on Tampa International Airport’s main terminal expansion has taken him somewhere special: Home. (12/18/2014)

As a child, David Potter remembers going to Tampa International Airport with his mother to pick up his father who was in the military and traveled a lot. Fast forward a couple decades later, and David is now a Programmer Analyst in Information Technology Services for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. (12/04/2014)

Jordan Biegler was a 12-year-old boy living in the tiny town of Coloma, Michigan, when his family took a trip to Europe to visit relatives. Several flights, graduations and jobs later - including the past two years at Tampa International Airport - the Airport Operations Manager still hasn't lost his enthusiasm for the concept of air travel. (11/05/2014)

As a Guest Services Manager, he's responsible for managing the front lines of TPA's stellar customer service - our Guest Services Representatives - and his enthusiasm for the airport is infectious. (10/02/2014)

As a teenager growing up in north Pinellas County, Shari Kopp loved to plan things. Today, Shari is the one responsible for planning all of the fun employee events for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. (09/18/2014)

During one of her first days on the job 15 years ago, front-office Senior Receptionist Brenda Perez received a call from someone wanting to know how much rain Tampa International Airport received from a passing thunderstorm. “Am I supposed to know this?” Brenda thought. (09/04/2014)

Carlos Blackwood enjoys being involved in every aspect of keeping Tampa International Airport and its employees out of harm’s way. As the Aviation Authority’s Risk and Safety Manager, he looks for ways to reduce potential for injury or damages. (08/07/2014)

Tampa International Airport Police Detective Kevin Durkin loses count when he tries to tally up all of his family members who work in law enforcement. “Helping other people – that’s something that doesn’t ever get stale,” Durkin said. “And I can say that with a straight face after 35 years of doing this.” (07/10/2014)

Trades Maintenance Superintendent Doyle Wiggins has been keeping TPA cool since 1989, after he left his only other full-time job he’s ever held – as a technician for a residential HVAC company – and came to work for the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority. (06/26/2014)

As the recently promoted Assistant Vice President of Planning and Development, Jeff oversees the construction of nearly $1 billion in Master Plan projects that are now underway, including the Consolidated Rental Car Facility, the 1.3 mile Automated People Mover and the main terminal expansion. (06/05/2014)